Scaffold structures



June 18 1968 1 QACAORNELIUSEN I3,388,771

sCAFFoLD STRUCTURES Filed July 1, 1966 2' Sheets-Sheet 1 June 18, 1968L.. o. coRNELlUsr-N 3,388,771

` scAFFoLD STRUCTURES Filed July l, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

few/4p@ @MQ/@Sew United States Patent O 3,388,771 SCAFFOLD STRUCTURESLeonard 0. Corneliusen, Prairie Industries, Inc.,

Terry, Mont. 59349 Filed July 1, 1966, Ser. No. 562,180 7 Claims. (Cl.182-153) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A scaffold jack comprising avertical standing frame including a pair of spaced side bars, an upperpivot bar connecting the side bars, a cross-member adjacent to andconnecting the lower ends of said side bars, and vertically spaced loopmeans on each side bar adapted to slidably receive a lumber plank forextending the length of each side bar, a prop frame secured at its upperend to the pivot bar, and a prop pivoted at one end on the lower end ofthe prop frame and having longitudinally spaced hooks at its free endselectively engageable with said cross-member, said jack beingcollapsible to fold into one plane and being erectable to support oneend of a scaffold with the prop frame pivoted to a substantiallyhorizontal position and said prop bracing the free end of the prop framefrom said lower cross-arm.

This invention relates to scaffold structure, and more particularly tomultiple use jacks adapted to be used alone or in combination withreadily available lumber for constructing different scaffold structures.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of efficient,Versatile, and lightweight jacks of the kind indicated which are adaptedto be easily and quickly connected and disconnected from each otherand/or from lumber components, and folded to compact easily portable andeasily storable forms, such that the jacks can be carried to jobs in thecontractors private car or pickup truck, instead of requiring to betransported in heavy and expensive trucks.

Another object of the invention is the provision of jacks of thecharacter indicated above, which are formed to be used in conjunctionwith lumber components which are usually available at building sites,whereby the transportation of such components to the job is eliminated,as far as the jacks are concerned.

A further object of the invention is the provision of jacks of thecharacter indicated above which are adapted to be used, in conjunctionwith available lumber components, for the construction, on the job, ofsuch structures as saw horses, painters and plasterers scaffolds, wallscaffolds, and carpenters scaolds, and the like.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a fragmentary side perspective view of a painters scaffoldof the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary end View of FIGURE 1, taken from the line 2 2;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a single jack of the presentinvention, in collapsed condition, and minus the lumber componentsappearing in FIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary and contracted vertical transverse section,taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 5 is a side perspective view of a scaffold, like FIGURE 4, butminus lumber components; and,

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective view, showing a painterswall-supported scaffold engaged with a wall.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and first to FIG- URE 3 thereof, asingle jack 10` is shown therein, which comprises a standing framecomposed of a pair of normally vertical, upwardly converging side bars12, spaced and connected, at points adjacent to their lower ends, by

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a lower cross bar 14. The side bars 12 are of angle iron form and haveright angularly related first and second flanges 16 and 18,respectively. The first flanges 16 are in planes extending crosswise ofthe side bars 12, and the second flanges 18 extend laterally outwardly,relative to the first flanges, and are in the same plane with eachother. The lower cross bar 14 is also of angle iron form, and has afirst horizontal flange 20 and a second vertical flange 22.

The side ba`rs 12 are spaced and connected, adjacent to their upperends, by means of an upper cross rod 24, which is journalled through thelateral or second flanges 16, of the side bars, the rod 24 being formedwith retaining heads 26, on its ends.

The second flanges 13, of the side bars 12, terminate, at their upperends in 45 degree angled terminals 28, which are formed with centeredholes 3f), provided to pass bolts 32. The flanges 18 are furtherprovided, adjacent to the terminals 28, with right angular stop flanges34. Spaced along the flanges 18, from the stop flanges 34 and from eachother, are rectangular loops 36. The loops 36 have cross members 38which are spaced from the flanges 18, at distances, to accommodatebetween these cross members and the flanges 1S. The wide width of lumberlengths P, such as ordinary two-by-fours. The outer legs 40 of the loops36 are secured, at their inner ends, to the free edges of the flanges18, and are spaced from the lateral flanges 16 of the side bars 12, atdistances to accommodate the narrow widths of the lumber lengths P. Theinner legs 42 of the loops are secured to the inner sides of the firstflanges 16 of the side bars.

A prop assembly 44 is fixed to the rod 24. The prop assembly 44comprises a frame composed of a pair of similar downwardly convergingside bars 46, of angle iron form, which have lateral flanges 48, facingeach other, and coplanar flanges 50. The side bars 46 have deflectedupper end portions 52, which are parallel to each other. The lateralflanges 48 of the upper end portions 52 are traversed by the rod 24, andthey and the coplanar flanges 50 are suitably fixed to the rod 24.

At their lower ends, the side bars 46 are fixed together, their coplanarflanges 5f) having their facing inner edges cut away and securablyengaged, as indicated at 54. Adjacent their lower ends, the lateralflanges 48 are traversed by a pivot bolt 56, having heads 58 engagedwith the outer sides of the lateral flanges. A rectangular plate 60,larger in cross section than the side bars 46, is secured across theirlower ends, and has a stop portion 62 extending laterally beyond thecoplanar flanges 5).

A prop 64, of channel form, is pivoted at one end, on the prop bolt 56,and has centrally fixed to its concave side, and projecting from theprop, at least two longitudinally spaced hooks 66, whose bills 68 areparallel spaced from the prop and are directed toward the free end ofthe prop, As shown in FIGURE 5, the prop assembly 44 is arranged to beswung away from the standing frame '70, constituted by the side bars 12,the lower cross bar 14, and the rod 24, so as to be at a downwardlydiverging angle relative to the frame 70, with the free end of the prop64 overlying the lower cross bar 14, and with the lower of the hooks 66,engaged with the adjacent edge of the horizontal flange 2f), of thelower cross bar, so that the lower end of the prop 64 engages the floor,along with the lower ends of the side bars of the frame 70, so that suchas a two-by-six lumber piece L can be supported, at one end, upon therod 24, to define the related end of a sawhorse A, the other end of thepiece P being similarly supported.

In FIGURES l, 2 and 4 is shown a painters or plasterers scaffold B,involving one or more lumber pieces L, laid side-by-side upon connectedpairs of jacks 10, in which the jacks are opposed in downward divergentrelationship, and are secured together, at their upper ends by mutualengagement of their angled terminals 28, through which bolts 32 arepassed and tightened. In this arrangement, lumber elements P are engagedthrough the loops 36, with their upper ends engaged with the stopflanges 34, and with their lower ends extended below the side bars ofthe frames '70, and engaged with the floor.

In this arrangement, the prop assemblies 44 are swung upwardly tohorizontal positions, and hooks 66 on their props 64 are engaged withthe lower cross bars 14 of the frames 7l), whereby the prop frames aredisposed horizontally, with related hooks of the props 64 engaged withthe lower cross bars 14 of the frames 79, the lumber pieces L being laidupon the prop frames.

In FIGURE 6 is shown a wall scaffold, which is cornposed of a pair oflongitudinally spaced single jacks 10, arranged, as in FIGURES 1, 2 and4, to put their terminals 23 against a wall W, with the frames 70disposed at an outward and downward angle, relative to the wall, andwith one or more lumber pieces L, laid upon their prop frames.

As shown in FIGURE 3, when not in use, the jacks 19 are adapted to becollapsed to a fiat, compact form, wherein the prop assemblies 44 arefolded down between the side bars 12 of the frame 7), and rest upon thelower f cross bars 14 thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A scaffold jack comprising a vertical standing frame, a prop assemblyincluding a prop frame pivoted at its upper end on the standing frame atthe upper end thereof, said prop assembly having a prop pivoted at itslower end on the lower end of the prop frame, said standing frame havinga cross-member adjacent to its lower end, and said prop havinglongitudinally spaced hooks at its free end selectively engageable withsaid cross-member, an upper rod extending between and journalled throughthe side bars at the upper ends thereof, said prop frame being fixed atits upper end to the said upper rod, said standing frame side membershaving coplanar flanges and lateral fianges on the inner edges of thecoplanar dianges, vertically spaced loops fixed to said anges and havingcross members facing the coplanar flanges, lateral stop flanges on saidcoplanar flanges above the upper one of said loops, and lumber lengthsengaged with said flanges and extending through the loops, said lumberlengths having upper ends engaged with the stop fianges and lower endsextending below the lower ends of the side bars of the standing framefor engagement with a supporting surface.

2. A scaffold jack comprising a vertical standing frame, a prop assemblyincluding a prop frame pivoted at its upper end on the standing frame atthe upper end thereof, said prop assembly having a prop pivoted at itslower end on the lower end of the prop frame, said standing frame havinga cross-member adjacent to its lower end, and said prop havinglongitudinally spaced hooks at its free end selectively engageable withsaid cross-member, an upper rod extending between and journalled throughthe side bars at the upper ends thereof, said prop frame being fixed atits upper end to the said upper rod, said side bars having angledterminals on their upper ends adapted to make mutual engagement withangled terminals on a companion jack, with the standing frames of thetwo jacks in downwardly divergent relationship.

3. A scaffold jack comprising a vertically disposable standing frameincluding a pair of spaced side bars, an upper pivot bar connecting theside bars, a cross-member adjacent to and connecting the lower ends ofsaid side bars, and vertically spaced loop means on each side baradapted to slidably receive a lumber plank for extending the length ofeach side bar, a prop assembly including a prop frame having a pair ofside members and a width substantially equal to the length of said pivotbar, said side members being hinged at their upper ends to the pivot barto swing about the axis of the pivot bar and being connected at theirlower ends, and a prop pivoted at one end on the lower end of the propframe and having at least one hook at its free end engageable with saidcross-member, whereby said jack may be collapsed by folding both theprop assembly and the prop about their pivots to lie between the sidebars of the standing frame.

4. A scaffold jack according to claim 3 wherein each of said side barscomprises an L-shaped cross-section angle bar, said loop means beingangle straps affixed to the flanges of said angle bars to define tubularreceiving passages for said lumber planks, and a stop secured to eachsaid angle bar between the uppermost of said loop means and said pivotbar for engagement with the top of a lumber plank.

5. A scaffold jack according to claim 3 wherein said prop framecomprises a pair of downwardly converging side bars fixed together attheir lower ends, the prop frame side bars beingy secured at their upperends to said pivot bar, said prop being disposed between the side barsof said prop frame and having said one end pivoted to the prop frameside bars at the lower ends thereof.

6. A scaffoldv jack according to claim 3 wherein a pair oflongitudinally spaced hooks are provided near the free end of said propselectively engageable with said crossrnember, whereby to vary theinclination of said prop and prop frame with respect to said frame.

7. In combination, a pair of scaffold jacks each as described in claim4, the angle bars of each frame having angled terminal tongues at theirupper ends adapted to mutually engage the corresponding tongues of thecompanion jack, and means for securing the tongues of one jack to thoseof the other with the standing frames in downwardly divergent relation,whereby said prop frames may be swung outwardly into opposed horizontalpositions to seat the end of a lumber plank platform at one end of ascaffold.

References Cited UNITED STATES 'PATENTS 363,483 5/1887 Ramsey 182-1211,612,941 1/1927 Peachee 182-184 2,549,212 4/1951 Lane `TS2-1812,611,570 9/1952 Kroll 182-225 2,846,274 8/ 1958 Nakano 182-1812,966,957 l/l961 Ireland 182-224 2,330,766 9/1943 Walstrom 182-214REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner.

